A Special Series Highlighting Significant Events in African American History During Black History Month
This week we conclude our month-long special series on significant persons and events on today’s date in Black history.
1869 — One Step Forward, Two Steps Back In Louisiana
Henry Clay Warmoth was just 26 years old when elected governor of Louisiana in 1868. He quickly came under fire for weakening civil rights legislation. Warmoth ended his term under the state legislature’s impeachment proceedings and was suspended from office. Lieutenant Governor P.B.S. Pinchback assumed office during Warmoth’s absence, becoming the first African-American governor in the history of the United States. The legislature dropped the impeachment charges against Warmoth after his term of office ended.
One of Warmoth’s most damaging actions was signing into law — 155 years ago today — a heavily watered-down public accommodation bill that was effectively one of the first Jim Crow laws. A challenge to the law made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and resulted in the infamous Plessy v. Ferguson ruling which enshrined “separate but equal” in U.S. law for another hundred years.
1965 — Constance Motley Elected Manhattan Borough President.
Constance Baker Motley was a lady of many firsts. In 1964, she became the first African American woman to sit in the New York State Senate. A graduate of Columbia Law School, she was the first Black woman to argue at the Supreme Court. In 1966, became the first African American woman federal judge. Sandwiched in between all that, 59 years ago today she was the first woman ever elected president of the Borough of Manhattan.
Image By Fred Palumbo — Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=89731923
Remembered as a key strategist of the civil rights movement, Ms. Botley served the federal judiciary with distinction until her death on September 28, 2005.
National Archives and Records Administration — Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=96339078
1979 — Frank Petersen Promoted to General
When Frank Peterson aced the U.S. Navy’s entrance exam, the recruiter told him he would make a “great steward.” Instead, Petersen set his sights on being a combat pilot. By the time he retired from service, he had flown 350 combat missions, and had over 4,000 hours in various fighter/attack aircraft.
Petersen held command positions at all levels of Marine Corps aviation, commanding a Marine Fighter Squadron, a Marine Aircraft Group and a Marine Aircraft Wing. He was also the first African-American to command a fighter squadron (VMFA-314), a fighter air group, an air wing and a major air base.On February 23, 1979, he was promoted to brigadier general, becoming the first African-American general in the Marine Corps.
General Petersen passed away in 2015 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Notable Birthdays
1868 — W.E.B. DuBois
W.E.B. DuBois was a prominent African American civil rights activist, sociologist, and writer. Born 156 years ago today, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, DuBois dedicated his life to fighting for racial equality and advocating for the rights of African Americans. He was a co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) His influential book, “The Souls of Black Folk” — published in 1903 — highlighted the persistent racial inequalities faced by African Americans and called for social and political change.
By James Edward Purdy – National Portrait Gallery, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=115198978
DuBois was sympathetic to socialist ideas and became a peace activist in his later years. He spent the last years of his life in Ghana and died in Accra on August 27, 1963.
1925 — Congressman Louis Stokes
Born in Cleveland 99 years ago today, Louis Stokes was an American attorney, civil rights pioneer and politician. He served 15 terms in the United States House of Representatives – representing the east side of Cleveland – and was the first African American congressman elected in the state of Ohio.
105th Congress, Congressional Pictorial Directory, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19885999
Cong. Stokes was one of the Cold War-era chairmen of the House Intelligence Committee, headed the Congressional Black Caucus, and was the first African American on the House Appropriations Committee. Congressman Stokes served in the U.S. Army during the Second World War and passed away in 2015 at the age of 90.
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So there you have it. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading along as I learned more about the significant contributions of African Americans during Black History Month.
By Steven Roberts
